Jellyfish Stings, What You Need To Know

The summer's finally here!! Now's the season for hiking, camping, and tons of other fun outdoor activities you've been waiting all winter to do. If you're crazy about marine sports activities, August is an ideal month for you. BUT BEWARE, there are dangerous creatures in the water...

In Japan, tradition has it that you never swim in the sea after the Obon Festival (the Japanese Buddhist festival held annually in August in Hokkaido to honor the dead), because if you do, youwill be pulled into the deep sea by the dead. Anther reason why you sould not swim after he Obo Festival, from a medical perspective, is because there are tns of jllyfish in the se, s you should avoid swimming in the sea wth these dngerous critters. /p> < class="articl">This month's issue gives you a heads up on the dangers of the summer sea and some ueful tips for jellyfish sting treatment.

How The Jellyfish Stings?

Jellyfish are gelatnous cratures, whic comeunder Cnidaria, a phylum of aquatic invrtebrate animals that comprise the oelenterates. There are around two thousandsecies of jelyfsh in the world, but les than one hundred are considered dngerous to human beings. Jellyfish eat mainlyzooplankton by capturing tem with toxic tentaces. They trave aroundthe ocean by thetide ad currents ad they can't hel stinging you when your body touchs them. If the tentacles make contact with your skin, the nematocysts, the stinging cells, will release their poison into your skin. The venoms include various substances, some of which trigger allergic reactions.

What Are the Symptoms?

Jellyfish sting symptoms vary according to each jellyfish species. General sting symptoms are categorized into local and systematic symptoms, which are anaphylactic reactions to the toxin.

Local Symptoms

Burning sensation (intense and stinging pain)

Rash

Wheals (raised welts) & blisters

Skin necrosis

Systemic Symptoms

Fever, chills, and sweating

Nausea, vomiting

Diarrhea

Abdominal and back pain

Cough

Wheezing, difficulty breathing

Confusion, anxiety

Slurred speech

Fainting, light-headedness, dizziness

Rapid or weak pulse

Blueness of the skin (cyanosis), including the lips or nail beds

Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)

If you find these systemic symptoms, you should seek immediate medical treatment.

Jellyfish Sting Treatment

If you've gotten stung by jellyfish, please follow the following steps.

Rinse the affected area with salt water or not rinse it at all. Do not rinse with fresh water, because it will further activate nematocysts and worsen the reaction.

Remove any tentacles still in contact with the victim using protective gloves or forceps.

In some cases, applying acetic acid 5% (white vinegar) is effective. This will inactivate undischarged nematocysts and the toxin, but in other jellyfish sting cases, this will aggravate the stinging cells. Do not pour vinegar if you can't identify the jellyfish.

Use over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control pain symptoms.

Immobilize the area that was poisoned to prevent further spread.

Call an ambulance if you have any anaphylactic reaction.

Advice on Avoiding Jellyfish Stings

Take notice of warnings and avoid the bathing areas, which are prone to toxic jellyfish.

Avoid swimming in the high-jelly season, such as in August.

Use wetsuits when swimming. Don't forget that is not complete protection since your feet, hands, neck and head are still exposed.

Don't touch jellyfish even when they seem dead on the shore. While there is still moisture, there can be life in those old cells and you may be stung.

The summer in Hokkaido is very short. The anxiety for marine activities may cause a terrible health crisis. Don't be a fool and go diving into waters where toxic jellyfish are lurking!